Carlo Carrà – Enzo Cacciola. From the 20th Century to the Contemporary: Color Becomes Matter

An exhibition-event in the hometown of Carlo Carrà

From September 26 to October 25, 2026, the Municipality of Quargnento, a small village in the province of Alessandria in the heart of the Piedmontese Monferrato, dedicates a major exhibition-event to one of its most illustrious sons: Carlo Carrà, one of the absolute masters of 20th-century Italian painting. The exhibition, titled Carlo Carrà – Enzo Cacciola. From the 20th Century to the Contemporary: Color Becomes Matter, is held in the Auditorium della Trinità, the multi-purpose space housed in the former Church of the Santissima Trinità.

The bond between Quargnento and Carrà

Carlo Dalmazio Carrà was born in Quargnento on February 11, 1881, and lived there until 1895. His middle name, Dalmazio, recalls the town's patron saint: a deep bond that the Municipality preserves through the Art Hall named after him and the "Art Paths," a route of lithographs displayed on easels in places dear to the painter. The 2026 exhibition marks a double anniversary: 145 years since his birth (1881) and 60 years since his death (1966).

Color that becomes matter

Unlike previous monographic reviews, this edition proposes a comparison between two artists on the theme of chromatism. Twenty canvases by Carrà from private collections are on display, alongside as many works by Enzo Cacciola, a leading figure in contemporary analytical art. The dialogue between the 20th century and current research focuses on how color becomes substance, physical presence, and living matter on the surface.

Artificial intelligence on display

Alongside the paintings, the exhibition presents a series of "moving works" created with artificial intelligence, which reinterpret the visual heritage of the two artists in a digital key. An additional bridge between past and present that makes this exhibition an opportunity for reflection on the future of pictorial language.

Curators and collaborations

The exhibition is curated by Rino Tacchella and Alberto Fiz, with the collaboration of Luca Carrà, the artist's grandson, and the Carlo Carrà Archive. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Quargnento and represents one of the most anticipated cultural appointments of the autumn in the Alessandria Monferrato area.